Acute middle ear infection

Most babies and small children experience at least one acute middle ear infection (acute otitis media) in the first three years of life. Children with an infection have pain and fever, cry frequently, and are unable to sleep at night. Although an acute middle ear infection can mean sleepless nights and worry for parents, it usually clears up on its own within two to three days. Serious complications are very rare.

In most cases, the only treatment needed is to relieve the pain, reduce fever, and give the child plenty of care and attention. However, parents should still monitor the course of the infection closely and ask for medical advice in case of doubt. More severe and longer-lasting symptoms may require further treatment.

The typical symptoms of an acute middle ear infection in a small child are:

• severe earache
• fever over 38 °C
• difficulty hearing because fluid has accumulated in the middle ear

The infection occurs very suddenly, sometimes accompanied by vomiting. As small children are often unable to pinpoint sources of pain, they may complain of a sore stomach rather than an earache. In particular if the child is still very young, it can be difficult for parents to assess the severity of the pain. They should check to see if the child frequently shakes his/her head or touches/rubs the ears. These may all indicate an infection.

When the middle ear becomes acutely inflamed, this is usually accompanied by a viral or bacterial infection such as the common cold, flu, or sore throat.

• With a respiratory infection, viruses or bacteria enter the throat. This causes inflammation of the mucus membranes, and increased production of secretions.
• The infection also causes swellings of the mucus membranes in the ear and in the Eustachian (or auditory) tube, i.e., the tube connecting the middle ear and throat.
• As a result, secretions can no longer drain out of this tube or the middle ear, and so these become blocked. This in turn causes pressure on the eardrum, so that the child experiences pain and difficulty hearing.

In babies and small children, germs can easily spread from the nose and throat to the middle ear because the tube connecting the two areas is still very short and narrow. Once children reach the age of seven, this tube and the immune system are more developed and middle ear infections occur less frequently.

A middle ear infection may also occur due to impaired ventilation of the middle ear. This can occur if the adenoids (sometimes referred to as “polyps”) become enlarged or if the Eustachian tube swells up due to an allergic reaction or sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses).

The following factors increase the likelihood of children getting a middle ear infection:

• using pacifiers
• close contact with other children, e.g. in childcare settings
• bottle feeding rather than breast feeding
• frequent exposure to tobacco smoke (passive smoking)

Middle ear infections are one of the most common reasons for babies and small children to visit the doctor. Around 80 percent of all children will have had one by the time they are three years old. Up to one third of these children will have recurring infections.

An acute middle ear infection usually clears up on its own and without any complications within two to three days. If an excessive volume of secretions has built up and puts pressure on the eardrum, the eardrum may rupture (burst). If this happens, the pain will subside and a thick fluid, possibly mixed with mucus and blood, flows out into the ear canal.

This ear discharge, known as otorrhea, may continue for several days or weeks. Over this period, the tear in the eardrum – which is usually very small – normally heals by itself.

With a chronic middle ear infection (chronic otitis media), the pain and fever resolve but the fluid buildup in the middle ear persists for weeks and fluid mixed with pus may continue to be discharged from the ear.

These longer-lasting infections can permanently damage the child’s hearing. Parents should seek medical advice if they notice that their child’s hearing is impaired after a middle ear infection.

While middle ear infections cannot normally be prevented, there are certain methods and measures that may serve to reduce the risk to some extent. For example, parents can reduce the amount of time that their child uses a pacifier. Above all, a smoke-free environment is very important for children, as passive smoking increases the risk of infections in the airways, nose, and throat, while also weakening the immune system.

For information about preventing middle ear infections, including recurring infections, visit gesundheitsinformation.de.

The doctor will begin by asking about the acute symptoms and any prior history of the illness.

This is followed by an examination of both ears, the neck, and throat. An instrument called an otoscope (auriscope) is used to examine the eardrum. The child’s body temperature will also be taken.

It is not always easy to diagnose an acute middle ear infection with certainty. The following are some of the signs that point to this diagnosis:

• sudden onset of the illness with severe ear pain, fever, and general weakness
• a red eardrum
• an eardrum that appears swollen, is rigid, and is not transparent – suggesting that there could be a buildup of fluid behind the eardrum

The main focus is usually on treating the severe earache as quickly as possible. Drugs like paracetamol or ibuprofen are suitable for relieving pain and reducing fever. The symptoms often subside after these have been administered, so that further treatment is not required.

Antibiotics are only effective if the inflammation is caused by a bacterial (rather than viral) infection. A bacterial infection is indicated by a discharge from the ear that is mixed with pus. In children under two years of age, inflammation in both ears is indicative of a bacterial infection.

To improve ventilation of the middle ear, nose drops to reduce swelling are often recommended, but in all likelihood, they do not have any effect on the course of the illness or its symptoms. They may simply relieve a blocked nose for a couple of hours, but they should not be used for more than a few days.

The effectiveness of home remedies such as leg compresses for fever or onion poultices for earache has not been proven. The same applies to herbal remedies. Homeopathic remedies are not effective.

For more detailed information about acute middle ear infections and what parents can do, visit gesundheitsinformation.de.